[Acacea]

Star of Ilsare - Reventage's Epic Conclusion

((Very cool quest hilarious in some points and terrifying in others with a very pretty ending and a scolding from a goddess... I don't think we fought a single hostile creature, but it was a rollercoaster ride all the same. Began narrative like a year ago, again never got even through the intro, though Acacea later told the tale of the First Harper a couple times. It is of course biased towards Acacea's perspective, as I can't speak as well for the angles of others. Again, reserved space for someday updating.))

The tree in front of the Aeridinite temple in North Point didn’t appear to notice the attire of the three companions gathered near it, but the flamboyant halfling sprawled under its drooping foliage seemed to think it should. Not everyone could pull off a not-quite-long-enough red sleeveless top with baggy forest-green shorts, after all, not to mention wearing such a striking blue scarf around the waist. One had to have both arms and calves nicely shaped, and the black for accents on the clothing helped, really, along with the proper head covering... In fact, the outfit was lucky to have found such an appropriate bard for the difficult task in modeling it.

“Firstly, thank you for coming.”

The young halfling blinked out of her reverie at the sound of the elven voice, just as her inner musings were beginning to wonder to themselves if it were too late in the day for a second breakfast.

“Right. Always ready to answer your call.” The dwarven wizard chuckled at his answer, which was greeted with a warm smile from the priestess in heart’s blood red.

“I do know I didn’t explain it to any decent degree when I invited you, and I appreciate you accepting that and joining me here.”

After squinting first one eye and then the other at the speaker, the colorful one grinned and said, “I thought there was free food.”

“That comes after.” As if sweetening a deal with a generous supplement, the elf with the emerald eyes added, “Perhaps even some wine...” before looking to the others with the corner of her mouth lifting in a small smile. “I suppose I should get to the point, shouldn’t I?”

As the dwarf’s strangely metallic voice questioned from under his helm the purpose of the gathering, an ancient looking human came doddering up behind them, hacking and wheezing as if he’d spent his entire life smoking enough Plains Exceptional to suffocate the capital. He managed to get out between coughs, “It’s a bloody crime...”

The others glanced over at the man, the bard cheekily replying with, “A crime to have a lung condition like that, sir!”

A few pairs of eyes were blinked as he coughed up at least three quarters of a lung in response, and the slender priestess raised a delicate eyebrow at his condition before suggesting that he get it checked out at the temple. The human merely leaned heavily on his staff for support, making frantic gestures as he gasped for breath. “Bloimey...drink...”

“Raspberry, elderberry, or milk?” came the prompt response from the halfling, followed by a pause and a hopeful, “Or whiskey?”

A choked, drawn out wheeze and some grabby gestures with the hand not clutching his staff was her only answer, and she glanced to the others. “He said whiskey, right?”

“He looks like the type,” answered the elf from a safe distance.

She rummaged around in her pack and started to pull it out, then reconsidered after hearing him choke again, offering him some juice instead. “Here! He's already coughing... whiskey makes me cough half fit to burst really, I'm pretty sure it'd do him in, you know?”

“Well I can't say I trust in your judgment when it comes to beverages, but I'll leave this one to you.”

The dwarf shook his head at the sight of the bard pondering while the old man was about to fall over. “Just give him some.”

She pushed it towards him again as he wobbled around, announcing more loudly, “Here!” until he took it with a panicked expression. He tossed it back urgently, draining the bottle, then sprayed it forward it a projectile raspberry cough that the nimble halfling had to move quickly out of the way of.

“Cripes...” he wheezed.

“Oh for the love of the gods, really!”

“Trying to poison me... well that figures...” he complained between coughs. “It does at that...” Without a hint of decency he lifted the bottom of his robes up to wipe all of the juice and spittle from his face, staggering easily as the elven priestess took him by the arm and gently dragged him to the temple of the Lifegiver. “Bloimey girl... I walked...all the way from the boat and all...” he mumbled, muffled under the sloppy swipes of fabric over his face before he finally dropped the hem of the garment, ending the unusual public display he didn’t seem to notice.

“I knew I should have given him some whiskey,” the 'poisoner’ muttered under her breath.

“Told you so.” The dwarf either ignored or didn’t hear her sigh at his comment and walked in after the odd pair, where the priestess was telling the human that they would all get him seated and Acacea would give him something with a bit of strength in it to drink.